Iraq's Haider al-Abadi cuts his cabinet

August 19, 2015

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has cut his cabinet, culling it down from 33 to 22 members. Positions cut mean the elimination of certain ministries - including the one that governs human rights and humanitarian affairs. The prime minister says the cuts are meant to weed out corruption and provide better services. Iraqis have been protesting against what they say is mass corruption in the government. We’ll talk about the changes with Laith Saud, a visiting assistant professor of religious studies at DePaul University.
PHOTO: Demonstrators chant pro-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in the poster left, during a demonstration at Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. Thousands of people demonstrated in cities across Iraq on Friday to show support for a reform plan put forth by the prime minister this week while still demanding that greater measures be taken to target corruption and restore basic services. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)